Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Discover the charming coastal town of Carmel and savor a series of tantalizing food tastings (which may include wine or a cocktail) on this 3-hour guided walking tour. Your passionate guide will share stories about the history, culture and architecture of Carmel as you stop at restaurants, stylish watering holes and food shops to meet business owners (when available) and sample different food items. You may visit places like a classic European Restaurant, a local tavern serving mixed fermentation brews and modern takes on classic dishes, purveyors of the freshest tortillas on the Monterey Peninsula, and a local producer of confections made from century-old recipes. In general, the tastings add up to an average lunch. Ideal for both tourists and Carmel residents, this tour is a leisurely and tasty way to learn more about this quaint town.
This small group tour is generally limited to 16 people, ensuring more personal attention from your guide.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Comfortable shoes recommended
Please advise of any specific dietary requirements at time of booking; we are unable to provide substitutions without advance notice
Minimum age is 21 years for alcohol consumption.
Adult pricing applies to all travelers age 3 and up; tour is geared towards adults but well behaved children are welcome
Children under the age of 3 should be discussed with tour operator as to the appropriateness of attending.
** We can accommodate vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten- and lactose-free diets with advance notice ONLY. Please inform us of any food allergies at time of booking. We are unable to provide substitutions without advance notice, so please note any special restrictions on your reservation.
Not recommended for travelers who are unable to walk without difficulty or pain
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What To Expect
Sunset Cultural Center
This is the meeting place for Carmel Food Tours. Look for the tall, Gothic-style arch and huge windows. It looks a little like a church, but it's not. When you descend into the courtyard, which is located EXACTLY at the intersection of 9th & San Carlos, you'll be greeted by your tour guide.
Carmel Food Tours is a guided 3-hour, walking, cultural, and tasting tour of beautiful Carmel-by-the-Sea. You'll spend time meandering through passageways and corridors, tasting your way along 6-7 restaurants and specialty shops. You will hear local insights and lore from your tour guide, and the afternoon will fly by while you discover new tastes and experiences that range from a honey company started by a 5th grader, to the only restaurant in Carmel that offers tableside preparation.
What‘s Included
All beverages
All food samplings (enough for lunch)
Professional foodie guide
3-hour food and wine tasting tour
Gratuities
Options
Carmel Small Group Walking Food & Cultural Tour
Duration: 3 hours
Includes all tastings
Reviews
392 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Delicious Dining and Fun Glimpse at Local Culture
Z3105JOlindal,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took this tour as part of an annual girls’ trip, and what a fun experience! Our guide Bonnie gave us the inside scoop on Carmel lore, which was so fun. The 5 stops we made offered fantastic food, wine, and cocktails. I highly recommend this deep dive into Carmel culture and cuisine!
Exceptional way to see Carmel-By-The-Sea!
Deepa K,,Nov 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Bonni as EXCELLENT!!! One if the best walking food tour guides ever. She gave the most wonderful context and explanations if Carmel By-the-Sea and the local eateries. Though I was by myself, I never felt alone. Bonni made the 3 hours so engaging. Highly recommend this tour!
Fun food tour
kathy S,,Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Rusti was great, such a nice person and very knowledgeable about Carmel and the food scene. Food and drinks were excellent
Great food! Beautiful Carmel!
107craign,,Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great way to start your visit to Carmel. Bonnie, our guide, was personable and knowledgeable about the area, the restaurants, the town. The tastings we had were delicious.
Excellent and fun food tour
Margiepom,,Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was the second time my friend and I have gone on a food tour with this company and this time we took our husbands. We all really enjoyed it. Bonnie did a great job - lots of history, architecture and of course, excellent food. I highly recommend this tour!!
GREAT TOUR & FABULOUS GUIDE!
Vatrav66,,Oct 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My wife and I went on a food tour. Our guide was Rusty. Extremely knowledgeable and fun. We visited lot of different places would not know even if you were a local. We even went to a great cheese shop a brewery, book store , Japanese restaurant with unique Sakes. I highly recommend this experience if you’re traveling to the area. This is a must do in Carmel!!! The Sullivan’s Midway, Utah
Food sampling with friends
jshubsda,,Oct 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Lots of large portion samples. Very good food. A little bit odd that we had honey sampling at Carmel Plaza but left and came back later for donut sampling. The story of the young man that owns the honey retail store was very interesting. Very fun time. Wished that there would have been more historical information info provided while walking around. Nevertheless, awesome food tour.
Must do while in Carmel
Elvira G,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Carmel is a must see if you are in the area & this tour was perfect! Bonnie was so friendly and knowledgeable! She made it a point to try to get to know us and make us all feel comfortable. I would book this tour if I came back again since we would probably try different foods/places like Bonnie mentioned. The food portions were generous and we were given plenty to drink. We also loved walking through all the unique passageways Carmel has so we could go back and know where we wanted to go shopping after our tour.
A bit lacking
973barbarae,,Oct 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Our tour guide, Rusty, was wonderful. She shared her love of the Carmel area as we walked to our restaurants. The reason for only 4 stars is the choice of venues. We have done many food tours and are used to tastings seated in a restaurant. On this tour only 3 were seated. Of the remaining 2 one was a stop at a kiosk that sells nuts and salts where we stood and sampled nuts. The final stop was at a lovely chocolate shop where we were each given 2 small pieces of candy. There was nothing wrong with the nuts or candy but definitely not what we expected i. terms of a tasting.
Wonderful tour-great guide!
merediths144,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time on this tour! Bonnie was delightful and had great knowledge of & passion for the community. All the food/drinks were spots on--highly recommend!
From US$149.00
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Operated by Carmel Food Tours